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People identify being Catholic with receiving the sacraments, and rightly so. When approaching a parish for a sacrament, they are usually told that they first need to be registered. Again, if someone comes through the office door to be a Godparent or sponsor, they are asked if they are registered. The operative question then becomes: “What exactly is necessary to be registered?” or “What does it mean to be registered in a parish?” Surely registration must be more than filling out a piece of paper. If receiving a sacrament were simply a matter of adding data to a form, what would be the point? Being registered means being actively involved in a local Catholic- Christian family. In the first place it entails attending the Eucharistic celebration each Sunday, thus sharing in the worship of God with one’s fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is one of the precepts of the Church, and necessary to be Catholic in more than just a nominal or superficial way. Again, being actively involved in a parish means participating in the life of the parish, and offering one’s help, skills and talents in the process. We are very much a collective entity, the sum total of all the goodness that parishioners offer to make their second spiritual home beautiful, welcoming and effective. Being registered means doing what one can to maintain and better one’s church. Another requirement, not the most important, yet necessary nonetheless, is regular tithing or financial support. It is an obligation which grows as an individual becomes more and more dedicated to the overall mission of a parish family. The amount asked would never cause hardship, but neither should it be merely a token gesture. A bustling parish has many costs in its efforts to provide great service to the local community, and its members ensure that it has the means to do so. The reception of a sacrament then, crowns the life of faith already being lived in a parish setting. This outlook is very different than a fast food drive-through approach, where individuals pull up to the office window, order what they want, and then speed away until the next sacrament is needed. Unfortunately, many people have taken on this second mindset. For this reason, we ask newcomers to complete four months of pre- registration, to show interest in becoming an active member of our local parish community, and to familiarize themselves with it. It is also our period of re-registration for those who have been away for a considerable amount of time, yet now seek something from us. This entails 1) verifying your weekly Mass attendance at our parish each Sunday with the attendance minister outside the church, 2) turning in one of the white envelopes each week with the amount you decide, and 3) participating in some of our functions. Of course a mere four months does not guarantee genuine interest, but it’s a start! If you would like to become part of our parish family, say hello to the pastor, visit the office and we will direct you to our online (p)re- registration form.
(P)re-registration
(P)re-registration
HOME
People identify being Catholic with receiving the sacraments, and rightly so. When approaching a parish for a sacrament, they are usually told that they first need to be registered. Again, if someone comes through the office door to be a Godparent or sponsor, they are asked if they are registered. The operative question then becomes: “What exactly is necessary to be registered?” or “What does it mean to be registered in a parish?” Surely registration must be more than filling out a piece of paper. If receiving a sacrament were simply a matter of adding data to a form, what would be the point? Being registered means being actively involved in a local Catholic-Christian family. In the first place it entails attending the Eucharistic celebration each Sunday, thus sharing in the worship of God with one’s fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is one of the precepts of the Church, and necessary to be Catholic in more than just a nominal or superficial way. Again, being actively involved in a parish means participating in the life of the parish, and offering one’s help, skills and talents in the process. We are very much a collective entity, the sum total of all the goodness that parishioners offer to make their second spiritual home beautiful, welcoming and effective. Being registered means doing what one can to maintain and better one’s church. Another requirement, not the most important, yet necessary nonetheless, is regular tithing or financial support. It is an obligation which grows as an individual becomes more and more dedicated to the overall mission of a parish family. The amount asked would never cause hardship, but neither should it be merely a token gesture. A bustling parish has many costs in its efforts to provide great service to the local community, and its members ensure that it has the means to do so. The reception of a sacrament then, crowns the life of faith already being lived in a parish setting. This outlook is very different than a fast food drive-through approach, where individuals pull up to the office window, order what they want, and then speed away until the next sacrament is needed. Unfortunately, many people have taken on this second mindset. For this reason, we ask newcomers to complete four months of pre- registration, to show interest in becoming an active member of our local parish community, and to familiarize themselves with it. It is also our period of re-registration for those who have been away for a considerable amount of time, yet now seek something from us. This entails 1) verifying your weekly Mass attendance at our parish each Sunday with the attendance minister outside the church, 2) turning in one of the white envelopes each week with the amount you decide, and 3) participating in some of our functions. Of course a mere four months does not guarantee genuine interest, but it’s a start! If you would like to become part of our parish family, say hello to the pastor, visit the office and we will direct you to our online (p)re- registration form.